Shels withdraw from CL

**kdjaC** · 29/03/2007, 11:03 PM

Statement from the Board of Management of Shelbourne FC - by Gareth Penrose

Following a meeting this evening of the board of management of Shelbourne FC, it was decided that Shelbourne FC would not be applying for a UEFA licence for this season. The club feels that following its recent success over the last number of years , it would not be of benefit to the clubs record to play in this seasons Champions League qualifying rounds.

It is also felt that it would be of no benefit to the leagues co-efficient in Europe, which Shelbourne FC along with other clubs has helped to raise.

Shelbourne FC would hope that our fans will understand the board of managements decision, and we would like to wish all the Eircom League of Ireland clubs well in this seasons UEFA competitions.

http://www.shelbournefc.ie/news.php?id=609

kdjac

**sligoman** · 29/03/2007, 11:04 PM

Fair play to Shels, right decision made!

**charliesboots** · 29/03/2007, 11:07 PM

Have passport, will travel!!

Presume we get the Champions League place now as seen as we're top of the league. Probably the best idea for the leagues co-efficient.

**cheifo** · 29/03/2007, 11:15 PM

Will they be replaced with another EL team.

**holidaysong** · 29/03/2007, 11:17 PM

Do they want a Blue Peter badge for this decision? It's not like they were going to get a licence anyway...

**higgins** · 29/03/2007, 11:22 PM

Holidaysong
Why not ?

**OneRedArmy** · 29/03/2007, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by cheifo

Will they be replaced with another EL team.

No, Sunderland will get in as the next best Irish team....

**Gareth** · 29/03/2007, 11:23 PM

holidaySong, what is your point?

**holidaysong** · 29/03/2007, 11:29 PM

Shelbourne are just bringing out this statement to get a bit of good PR and a pat on the back. If they had applied for a UEFA licence they wouldn't have gotten one. In my opinion, they are essentially jumping before they were pushed...

**Gareth** · 29/03/2007, 11:30 PM

So..?

**cheifo** · 29/03/2007, 11:30 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

No, Sunderland will get in as the next best Irish team....

I'm a Harps fan.I'd prefer Sunderland to represent us than some other team I could mention.

**holidaysong** · 29/03/2007, 11:34 PM

My point is this - Sligoman reacted saying 'fair play' to Shelbourne, why praise them when they were just announcing what was quite inevitable?

**Billy Lord** · 29/03/2007, 11:37 PM

Shels took this on the chin rather than contest it. Fair play.

**Student Mullet** · 29/03/2007, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

My point is this - Sligoman reacted saying 'fair play' to Shelbourne, why praise them when they were just announcing what was quite inevitable?

Because they withdrew with positive reasons stated instead of kicking up a fuss and holding a christmas tree hostage.

**higgins** · 29/03/2007, 11:39 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

My point is this - Sligoman reacted saying 'fair play' to Shelbourne, why praise them when they were just announcing what was quite inevitable?

You don't know if that's what was going to happen. Even if they did know then the 'fair play' comment still stands as they did the right thing.

You'd imagine being in 22nd place in the EL and making a good decision that foot posters would stop with the Shels bashing but that doesn't seem to be the case

holidaysong , If you were the Shelbourne Board of Management what would you have done?

EDIT: I see Billy Lord and Student Mullet can accept it for what it is without having a go. Thanks.

**OneRedArmy** · 29/03/2007, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by cheifo

I'm a Harps fan.I'd prefer Sunderland to represent us than some other team I could mention.

Pats get into UEFA and Derry go into Champions League.

Sensible decision by Shels, rather than get themselves off the hook, I think its most beneficial to the FAI as it effectively stops UEFA from poking around into the murky world of Shels recent dealings and the FAI's knowledge of what was going on.

**TheBoss** · 29/03/2007, 11:44 PM

For the benefit of League of Ireland football as stated, it was the right decision obviously, if they did enter, they would have been getting beat 5 or 6-0 by any team really.

**higgins** · 29/03/2007, 11:48 PM

Originally Posted by OneRedArmy

.....its most beneficial to the FAI as it effectively stops UEFA from poking around into the murky world of Shels recent dealings and the FAI's knowledge of what was going on.

Are you saying that you think the FAI know something they don't want UEFA to know!!

the way you're talking here it's like the FAI are doing Shels a favour in all this!

I think UEFA would be more than happy with the punishment that the FAI have dished out to Shelbourne. We lied and we were caught out and demoted.

Enjoy your trip...

**holidaysong** · 29/03/2007, 11:56 PM

I wouldn't think any less of Shelbourne if they had opted for UEFA to have a snoop around in their affairs rather than this statement way out. Although it appears noble, I really don't think Shels would have done it if they had thought they had a credible chance of getting into Europe this season. Obviously they may have thought they could have gotten in but decided to preserve the co-efficient by not trying to. However, I don't think so.